Friday, August 31, 2018

Top-tier German football club VfL Wolfsburg has announced that its captain will wear a rainbow armband at all matches to underline the team’s commitment to tackling homophobia.

The team plays in the Bundesliga, the highest tier of professional football in Germany.

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Ahead of their opening game against FC Schalke, the team unveiled the armband that will be worn by captain Josuha Guilavogui.

The club explained that “all VfL team captains” will wear the rainbow band for games in the upcoming season, across the men’s, women’s and youth teams.

VfL general manager Jörg Schmadtke said: “As a club we stand for a tolerant society. That’s why we’re not only taking this stance against discrimination now but across the whole season and in all of our teams, sending out a clear signal that we stand for diversity.”

There are few openly gay male footballers in the country, although former German national team player Thomas Hitzlsperger is one of the few LGBT role models in the sport.

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Following the recent announcements of guest stars like David Schwimmer and Jon Cryer, NBC has announced that Matt Bomer and Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon will both appear in an upcoming episode from the show's 10th season.

According to NBC, Bomer will play McCoy Whitman, "a smooth talking, self-satisfied TV news anchor who dates Will (Eric McCormack)." Bomer is no stranger to sitcom appearances as the out actor has chalked up guest roles on comedy series over the years like Modern Family and the short-lived Next to Normal.

Rippon, who took home a Bronze medal earlier this year in the Winter Olympics and will be one of the judges on the upcoming Dancing With the Stars: Juniors, will cameo, not as himself but in an undisclosed character.

The revival is due back on NBC for a 10th season sometime this fall after garnering 5 Emmy nominations for their 9th season. It’ll have a whopping 18 episodes, and NBC has already ordered an 11th season of Will & Grace after the overwhelming positive response for the comedy’s return.

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

A Colorado mother says her 9-year-old son took his life last week because of anti-gay bullying from his classmates.

Leia Piece, of Denver, told she found her son, Jamel Myles, dead in her home, months after her son told her he was gay over the summer.

"And he looked so scared when he told me. He was like, 'Mom, I’m gay.' And I thought he was playing, so I looked back because I was driving, and he was all curled up, so scared. And I said, 'I still love you'".

Pierce said her son told her he wanted to tell his classmates when he went back to school because he was “proud of himself.” But just four days after he started fourth grade at Joe Shoemaker Elementary School, Myles was dead.

The 9-year-old was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. It was not immediately clear how he died, but the medical examiner ruled his death as a suicide.

Pierce told she believed bullying played a part in her son’s death. "My child died because of bullying. My baby killed himself." She said her son told her daughter that his classmates told him to take his own life.

"Four days is all it took at school. I could just imagine what they said to him," Pierce told. "My son told my oldest daughter the kids at school told him to kill himself. I’m just sad he didn’t come to me. I’m so upset that he thought that was his option."

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Students may be coming out for the first time, switching schools for more of an inclusive environment, returning to a hoard of classmates in a classroom they never felt safe in the year prior, or learning to understand their LGBT peers as an ally.

Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has suggested a few tips to help keep the kids in the education game, as their whole selves.

Make the lesson plan inclusive:

It’s suggested that teachers take the time to get to know their students and appreciate them for their individual needs. Teachers can start the year off on the right foot by teaching students how to be allies and learning about what makes each child special.

Make everything gender-neutral:

Ditch the pink and blue. Stop making cubbies for boys and girls and divide these special spaces by numbering or lining them up by birth month, color of clothing or alphabetically by name.

Stop it already with the gender:

Instead of calling students “boys and girls,” try using non-gendered terms like “students,” “scholars” or “friends.” This shows the attempt to be more inclusive of all identities in the classroom.

Embrace the teachable moments:

Educators can practice how to respond when they hear students say things like, “That’s gay!” or “You act like a girl!” or “You’re not a real family because you don’t have a dad!” Be prepared to interrupt mean teasing about a child’s identity or their family.

Prevent bullying:

Educators must ensure that bullying policies specifically name groups that are disproportionately bullied or harassed, and then make it clear to students that this means no put-downs about who someone is or who their family is. Preventing bias-based bullying starts on day one.

Announce a safe space:

Making it known that the classroom is a safe space will go a long way in setting the tone for the year ahead. Since most classrooms have a variety of displays, why not switch out the apples and school buses for a display that shows diverse family structures and people of different races, gender expressions and abilities? Use slogans that encourage respect for all people. For an easy visual, print a Welcoming Schools safe school sign.

Thursday, August 23, 2018

A local entrepreneur has started a GoFundMe ahead of a 26.2-mile marathon he’s running to raise funds and visibility for LGBT athletes.

Kedzie Teller, owner of a marketing and consulting business in Philadelphia, is raising money for Athlete Alley, a New York-based international nonprofit working at the intersection of sports and LGBTQ equality. The runner said he wants to normalize openly gay athletes to combat the “homophobic environment perpetuated in sports.

Teller is also an athlete who turned to marathon running after playing for the U.S. team in the International Quidditch Association World Cup 2012-2014 and remaining part of the national team until last year.

He explained that he wanted to break away from the sport but still remain athletically active. After consulting with his sister, who regularly participates in marathons, Teller turned his attention to long-distance running to stay in shape, but also as a way to “work through issues.”

Now, Teller is one of Athlete Alley’s 188 ambassadors that, work to end homophobia and transphobia in sports. The athlete said he is using his current training period as an “opportunity to share Athlete Alley’s message in a more proactive way. I’m trying to spread awareness of what Athlete Alley does while, at the same time, raising money to put back into the organization.”

Teller is tracking his training journey via #RunProud on social media. The marathon has opened his eyes to how important visibility is, he said.

The successful passage of this measure would make California the first state in the United States of America to dedicate a memorial recognizing LGBT veterans.

The memorial was built in May 2001, and is made up of a grey obelisk-shaped stone, featuring an eagle and a pink triangle, an international symbol representing LGBT rights, which is now known as the American Veterans for Equal Rights.

Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia said: “I am very proud of all of our constituents and local partners who have held steadfast, organizing this effort since the early 2000’s to accomplish this historic feat. It was an honor to play a role in being able to help California continue to lead on this next step toward equality and inclusion."

"The sanctioning of this first of its kind, veteran memorial demonstrates our immense gratitude for the valiant contributions of LGBT veterans, true American patriots, who placed their lives on the line to defend the liberties we enjoy daily. Their sacrifices, in spite of obstacles and facing discrimination, more than merit the honor of a dedicated memorial site and sacred space for their loved ones to mourn the loss of these heroes,” he added.

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Disney Channel star Garrett Clayton, who starred in “Teen Beach Movie” as well as NBC’s “Hairspray Live,” came out as gay in a moving Instagram post.

Clayton, 27, penned the post as an explanation as to why he signed on to the upcoming film “Reach,” and quietly slipped in the fact that he has been in a relationship with a man “for a long time.”

“I have personally dealt with suicide within my own family, intense bullying in high school, and – on top of it all – myself and the man I’ve been in a relationship with for a long time have both experienced shootings within our hometown school systems,” he wrote.

“Reach” is about a socially awkward teenager who plans to kill himself after relentless bullying, but whose plans are thrown for a loop when he befriends the new kid at school.

“I prefer to share things that are particularly important for me here on my Instagram instead of in some random magazine or online article because you are the ones that have been rooting for me and following me on my professional and personal journey in life,” he wrote.

He tagged boyfriend Blake Knight in the post. Knight celebrated his boyfriend’s big announcement on his own Instagram, writing that he was “so proud” of Clayton. “He’s overcome a lot, and still has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I’ve ever met,” he wrote. “Handsome, talented, hilarious, kind… what’s not to love?!”

Monday, August 20, 2018

You may already follow Troy Pes, the Venezuela-born social media influencer who now lives in LA with his boyfriend Zander Hodgson.

While he uses his popular Instagram account to showcase his life, he opened up in Attitude’s September issue that one of his main focuses is it to shine a positive light on LGBT relationships.

“It took me so long to accept myself as a gay person,” Troy said in his Attitude interview. “It took me so long to be able to say, ‘Yeah, I’m gay.’ It took me so long to come to terms with that, and to feel OK with saying it.”

He went on to say that even though he had boyfriends and was open about being gay to himself, he had a hard time saying he was gay and proud to the outside world. He also mentioned that he was never the kind of person to post kissing photos until now.

“Zander is the first one that I’m like, ‘This is my boyfriend,’ this is my relationship, let’s make it public and show everyone that we’re in love and happy," he said.

"I’m not an activist but I do want to make sure that as a citizen of the world, people see that you can be gay and happy," Troy added.

Saturday, August 18, 2018

That’s the message the greatest professional male tennis player of all time again sent when he was asked at the Western & Southern Open near Cincinnati what he thought of the upcoming event in New York City celebrating LGBT inclusion in tennis, and the idea of having out tennis players on the ATP Tour.

“Yeah, I think no problem at all,” Federer said. “Yeah, it is true we have not had it. Don’t know why, you know? Have we not had any, or some players have just chosen to not do it? I think it would be totally accepted, no problem.”

“I’m all for it, it’s a good thing. It doesn’t matter where you came from, who you are, I’m all for it that you’re open about it. I think you’ll feel better in the process, to be honest, and everybody should support one another on this planet,” he added.

Various women have been publicly out while still playing professional tennis, including Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Amelie Mauresmo and several current players. However, no top-100 player on the men’s tour has ever come out publicly while still playing.

Friday, August 17, 2018

Costa Rica’s highest court ruled that it was unconstitutional and discriminatory to prevent same-sex couples from tying the knot.

According to ruling, lawmakers now have 18 months to implement changes through a new law or same-sex weddings will automatically become legal.

President Carlos Alvarado, who has publicly advocated for same-sex marriage throughout his campaign since entering power in April, welcomed the decision.

“We continue to deploy actions that guarantee no person will face discrimination for their sexual orientation or gender identity, and that the state’s protection be given to all families under equal conditions,” he tweeted as the news broke, adding “Our commitment to full equality remains intact”.

He added: “We will continue to boost actions that guarantee no person will face discrimination for their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

During this year’s general election, same-sex marriages was a major campaigning point and proved to be a topic of contention.

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Christine Hallquist became the country’s first openly transgender candidate to win a major party’s nomination in a governor’s race.

Vermont Democrats made history by selecting Hallquist as their gubernatorial nominee in the party’s primary. She defeated three other candidates.

In November’s election, the former CEO faces off against Republican Gov. Phil Scott, who polls show has lost popularity among voters in recent months.

Hallquist joins a number of transgender men and women who have run for office recently, including the country’s first openly transgender state legislator, Virginia’s Danica Roem, who won her office last November.

Hallquist told that the choice to transition in 2015 was difficult, but that she ultimately decided telling the truth to her three children was more important. The former engineer initially feared losing her job when she came out as trans, but she said Vermont welcomed her with open arms.

“I consider myself a very strong leader with a good history who happens to be transgender. I mean, I’d ask the voters who may be struggling with the fact I am transgender to try to look beyond that. Try to look at what I’ve done,” she added.

A court in Lebanon ruled that the country’s law does not ban homosexuality.

The decision to uphold the acquittal of nine people prosecuted for being gay in 2017 has been celebrated by activists, who view it as a landmark moment in the fight to decriminalise homosexuality.

The ruling was handed down by a Mount Lebanon appeals court, the highest judicial authority to find in favour of equality so far.

It rejected an appeal to overturn a lower court’s ruling in January last year that if Lebanese citizens wanted to have gay sex, it was “a practice of their fundamental rights.”

The nine people acquitted in that decision had been charged under Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code, which bans sexual acts which “contradict the laws of nature,” making them punishable with one year in prison.

But the Mount Lebanon judges ruled that when they were constructing this law, “legislators had not intended to criminalise homosexuality but rather offence to public morals.”

Karim Nammour, a lawyer and an activist for LGBT equality, said that the decision means “homosexual relations are not a crime, as long as they are between two adults and do not occur in a public space.”

Nammour said this was the fifth such verdict in support of equality for gay people, but that a ruling from such a high-ranking court was unprecedented. “The appeals court has a certain authority… It’s higher in the hierarchy,” he added.

Lebanon was more tolerant than most Arab countries, but this year Beirut Pride was canceled after its organizer was detained by authorities. I sincerely hope the things will change in Lebanon since now.

Thursday, August 9, 2018

A year since the disappearance of Chechen gay singer Zelim Bakaev, his family, fans and activists are still searching for answers about what happened to him.

Zelim was last seen being dragged into a car in the streets of the Chechen capital Grozny, where he had gone to attend his sister’s wedding last year, on August 8. No one has heard or seen him since.

﻿Chechen refugees of the LGBT World Beside organisation held a small rally outside the Russian embassy in Belgium in his honor.

“We demand the resolution of an international independent investigation by an international human rights organisation. We do not forget and see what is happening in Chechnya,” they wrote in a statement.

Human rights activists have long been demanding an investigation into Zelim’s disappearance, which has yet to be launched as authorities in both Chechnya and Russia have dismissed reports of a purge targeting gay men in the Chechen republic.

Zelim’s mother has pleaded for answers, but nothing has been done. Not for him or any of the other victims of the gay purge in Chechnya.

Chechen authorities denied these accusations, going so far as to deny the very existence of LGBT people in Chechnya. Nonetheless, there have been numerous verified reports of secret prisons, torture and possibly as many as 20 men have been killed.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Barack Obama’s former Vice President Joe Biden, a long-time supporter of LGBT rights, has made LGBT issues a core focus of the Biden Foundation, which was set up following his departure from the White House.

Biden launched a campaign "As You Are" to raise awareness of “the importance of family acceptance in the lives of LGBTQ young people,” putting significant resources towards campaigns bolstering acceptance by families.

Biden said: “I’m so proud to announce that the Biden Foundation has launched a family acceptance campaign. We’ll use our resources to highlight the harms of family rejection, and lift up research, best practices, and personal stories to powerfully show the significant value of family acceptance.”

The Foundation added: “Today far too many LGBTQ folks continue to face rejection at home and discrimination in their communities. This kind of rejection leads to heartbreaking outcomes.”

“Forty percent of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ. Many of them have been kicked out of their homes, or no longer find it safe to stay at home.

“Gay, lesbian and bisexual youth are five times more likely than their straight peers to have attempted suicide. 40 percent of transgender and gender nonconforming adults report having attempted suicide at some point in their lives. Most of them before the age of 25.”

“Some parents subject their children to the vile practice of conversion therapy or pressure them to keep their identities secret. It doesn’t have to be this way.”

“If you are an LGBTQ person who has experienced rejection or acceptance we want to hear from you. If you are a parent we want to hear from you. If you are a teacher, a coach friend neighbor co-worker sibling or ally we want to hear from you, too.”

“By sharing your stories, we can work together to change the culture and ensure a bright future for the LGBTQ young people in America.”

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

One of the royal horse cavalry guards who escorted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding day moonlights as a gay adult film performer and Mr Gay UK in 2007.

As a member of The Household Cavalry, Dan Broughton is a prominent member of the plumed and gold-helmeted mounted royal escort. His unit accompanied the newly married couple’s white horse-drawn carriage through Windsor’s streets following their sumptuous May 19 wedding.

Besides its ceremonial role, The Household Cavalry also serves as Queen Elizabeth’s official bodyguard.

It’s never been a secret that Dan is gay. In fact, he’s believed to be a pal of Harry, who “has even described him as his ‘GBF’, gay best friend”.

In addition to identifying himself as a member of the British military on his Twitter profile, Dan also describes himself as an "International Commercial and Erotica Model".

Various members of the LGBT community attended the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Windsor last month. The younger generation of the Royal Family, including Princes William and Harry, have shown support for LGBT rights.

Saturday, August 4, 2018

More than 10,000 athletes have gathered in Paris to take part in the 10th edition of the Gay Games, the world’s most inclusive sports event.

Held every four years like the Olympics, the Gay Games’s first edition was organised in San Francisco, California, in 1982.

The 2018 event, held between August 4-12, will see the participation of athletes representing 91 different countries, including 20 where homosexuality is illegal such as Egypt, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, and a Chinese team will compete for the first time.

Whereas other sport events are struggling with letting trans athlete compete in their preferred gender category, the Gay Games has no such qualms. Every one can choose his or her gender or choose to compete in a mix team.

Friday, August 3, 2018

An Italian priest named Giuliano Costalunga caused the repercussions in his country after moving to Spain to marry his boyfriend and explain his love to the whole world through a video about the trip and the ceremony published on YouTube.

"After 10 years my dream has finally come true, I married Paolo, my friend and my love, because I always love God and I love him," confessed the priest. "I live a special experience, Paolo has saved me, it made me a better person, it's an angel that has changed my life," he added.

The Verona bishop, in contrast to gay marriage, does not approve of his decision: "For our church it's a very sad case. A predecessor in my position would prevent this father from being ordained, I imagine he had intrigued that here the man was not the best choice to become a priest."

The two men now live their love story in the beautiful Canary Islands, Spain, because this is a country that is a reference in LGBT rights. They say that every Sunday very early they go to the church because their love in God is greater than the prejudices of the people.

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

A recent report Inequality in 1,100 Popular Films reveals that out of 4,403 characters studied in Hollywood movies last year, less than 1% (only 0.7%)) were gay, lesbian, or bisexual. No transgender characters in the top 100 movies of the year at all.

Conducted over a decade, looking at Hollywood’s biggest films from 2007 to 2017, researchers examined portrayals of women, characters of color, LGBT characters, and characters with disability.

Overall, the numbers reveal that despite all the talk about diversity and representation, there is less action to make it happen.

Looking at the bigger oicture from 2014 to 2017 (400 films and 17,820 characters) things don’t get much better. Across those years, 83 characters were gay. That’s 0.004% of all characters examined. Besides, only 29 were lesbians and 22 were bisexual. A single trans character appeared in these 400 films.

For other portrayals the report assesses, the numbers remain unfortunately low.

Of the studied 1,100 films, only 13% had a gender balance in their cast. When looking year-by-year, women fared worst in 2014 with 28.1% of speaking roles and best in 2008 and 2009, with 32.8% each. In 2017 alone, only 33 films of the 100 most popular had a female lead or co-lead. Of those characters, only 4 were women of color and 5 were 45 or older.

In terms of race, 70.7% of characters since 2007 have been white. 12.1% have been black, 6.2% Hispanic, 4.8% Asian, and 6.3% other. Once more, this is also worse for women of color. Of the top 100 films of last year, 43 had no black women, 65 had no Asian women, 64 had no Hispanic or Latinx women, and 94 had not LGBT women.

For people with disabilities, only 2.5% of speaking roles were depicted as characters with a disability. 61.6% of them were physical disabilities, 26.8% were mental, and 30.4% were communicative. The gender factor also plays a role in this. 69.6% of the characters with disabilities were male and 30.4% were female.

A solution could be adopting the inclusion rider provision, which gained popularity after Frances McDormand mentioned it in her Oscars acceptance speech earlier this year. In any case, Hollywood has to pull their socks up!